The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 354 History proves that you should never mess with a Han envoy.
In the winter of the fourth year of Zhangwu, after Cao Cao usurped the throne, he sent envoys south.

He secretly allied with the barbarian tribes of Jingnan and instigated a rebellion in four counties.

In Lingling, Guiyang, Wuling, Changsha and other counties, barbarian tribes rose up in droves.

They killed Han officials, seized cities, and for a time, war raged across the land.

All four prefectures in Jingnan are out of control!

To coordinate with Sun Quan's attack from Jiangdong, Cao Cao dispatched troops from Shu.

He personally led an army of 70,000, which was said to number 400,000 in infantry and

They launched an attack from Shangyong, intending to seize Jingzhou in one fell swoop.

At that time, Zhuge Liang, the former governor of Jingzhou, had already been summoned to Lingnan.

Because Ma Liang had rendered meritorious service in defending Jiangling and was also from a prominent family in Jingbei, the imperial court retained him to take charge of the state affairs.

Liang, courtesy name Jichang, was a native of Yicheng, Xiangyang.

Known as "Among the five Ma brothers, Bai Mei is the best," he was renowned for his talent.

However, suddenly being entrusted with such a great responsibility and facing such a critical situation, he couldn't help but feel extremely worried.

That day, Ma Liang was discussing defense matters with the officials of Jingzhou when a scout suddenly reported:

"General Chen Deng, the General Who Conquers the South and Governor-General of Huainan, has led an army of 20,000 and has arrived 30 li outside Jiangling City!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Liang was overjoyed. He quickly straightened his clothes and led the civil and military officials of Jingzhou out of the city to welcome him.

In the distance, dust billowed and banners fluttered, and a general was at the forefront.

He was clad in armor, with a long sword at his waist, and had a lean face but piercing eyes.

It was Chen Deng and Chen Yuanlong.

"General Chen has come from afar to help us in this emergency; the entire Jingzhou region is deeply grateful!"

Ma Liang bowed deeply with his hands clasped.

Chen Deng dismounted and helped Ma Liang up, saying:

"No need for such formalities, Governor Ma."

"The nation is in dire straits, and it is my duty to rush to its aid as ordered."

After entering the city, Chen Deng sat down in the prefectural government office and looked around at the officials of Jingzhou below.

Seeing the worried expressions on everyone's faces, he gently comforted them:

"...Gentlemen, do not worry."

"Although Cao Cao is powerful, the might of our Han Dynasty remains. With the army and the people united, we will surely be able to defeat him."

Ma Liang sighed:

"General, you may not know this, but since Cao Cao instigated the rebellion in Jingnan, all four commanderies have fallen."

“Barbarians killed my officials and occupied my city.”

"Now, north of Jiangling, only Nanjun is still under our control, while the rest of the land is filled with fear and panic."

This is mainly because Jingzhou had just experienced a political upheaval.

This has led to a very unstable situation in Jingzhou.

Otherwise, Cao Cao would not have considered starting his campaign from Jingnan.

His plan to stir up the situation in Jingzhou was indeed very successful.

The Jiangling government seat has completely lost control of Jingnan.

Meanwhile, Jingbei was also caught up in the power struggles that followed Zhuge Liang's departure.

Although Ma Liang was able to appease some of the local powerful clans, he could not suppress the old officials of Liu Bei's faction.

The infighting over power in Jingzhou gave the Wei and Wu people an opportunity to exploit the situation.

Now the people of Jingzhou are going to pay the price for the mistakes they made!

Chen Deng frowned slightly:

"How are the military equipment?"

"In a hurry, we could only gather more than 10,000 troops from the prefecture."

"Including the elite troops from Huainan led by the general, the force is no more than 30,000."

Ma Liang looked troubled. "Cao Cao claims to have 400,000 infantry and cavalry, though that might be an exaggeration..."

"But their numbers will certainly be several times greater than ours,"

"According to the scouts, the Wei army has reached Dangyang and will soon march south."

Cao Cao deliberately chose to attack from the north of Jingzhou in order to coordinate with the rebels in the south of Jingzhou and thus launch a pincer attack from the north and south.

Upon hearing these words, all the officials below the hall paled.

Pan Jun stepped forward and said:

"General Chen, does the imperial court have any reinforcements?"

Chen Deng took out a roll of yellow silk from his bosom and solemnly said:
"When I left Shouchun, I received an imperial edict from His Majesty."

Everyone immediately knelt down to listen, and Chen Deng read aloud:

“Jingzhou is the gateway to the country and must not be lost.”

"However, with the new pacification of Henan, troops need to be stationed to defend the northern border, and we must guard against Sun Wu in the east. The manpower is tight."

"When you arrive in Jingzhou, you should work together with Ma Liang and others to hold the city firmly."

After the reading was finished, the hall fell silent.

The implication of this edict was that Chen Deng should cooperate with the Jingzhou troops to block Cao Cao's surrender, protect Jingzhou, and quell the rebellion.

As for the imperial court, it will not send any more reinforcements.

When the cannon is fired, there is a thousand taels of gold.

Clearly, Liu Bei and the court officials hoped that Chen Deng could stop Cao Cao from surrendering the army with the existing forces.

Many of the northern generals in the country were unwilling to go south at this time.

Despite this situation, Liu Bei still harbored a glimmer of hope.

If Chen Deng and his men could defeat Cao Cao with their current forces, that would be ideal.

It can save the country a huge amount of money.

If not, the imperial court will certainly not abandon the south when absolutely necessary.

I just hope that the Jiangnan region will make more efforts.

In addition, another reason is—

Jiangnan, or more precisely Huainan, still retains a great deal of autonomy.

With the unification of the country, it is not difficult to see that Liu Bei basically took back the position of "Governor".

Local officials were all "prefects".

The biggest difference between a prefect and a governor is that a prefect is a local official appointed by the imperial court.

The governor was only a nominal official of the imperial court; in reality, he was no different from a local warlord.

Because the governor's power is far greater than that of the prefect.

Thanks to Li Yi's initiative in relinquishing power, Liu Bei essentially regained control of the north and strengthened centralized authority.

However, due to the "Ma Su Incident" in the south, Chen Deng still held considerable power.

Furthermore, since he did not bestow titles of kingship upon the founding ministers, Liu Bei could not take the initiative to propose reclaiming power over Huainan.

After all, not everyone is Li Yi.

When faced with the temptation of power, one must be able to take it and let it go.

The relationship between Li Yi and Liu Bei went beyond that of "ruler and subject" or "teacher and disciple," but not with anyone else.

If Liu Bei had treated Chen Deng the same way he treated Li Yi, it would have only alienated his old comrades who had started the business with him.

Therefore, at least for now, Liu Bei still tacitly allows Chen Deng to serve as a regional official in Huainan.

This shows Liu Bei's benevolent side.

After all, if the imperial court really wanted to take back Huainan, Chen Deng wouldn't be able to stop it.

But Liu Bei would not do that. He couldn't bear to see his brothers kill each other, allowing the Wu people to reap the benefits.

Liu Bei once said this to his subordinates:
"Although I have restored the Han Dynasty, I will never treat my brothers the way Emperor Gaozu treated the Marquis of Huaiyin!"

This was a promise he made to the people after he became emperor.

Whether you call it sincerity or a way to win people's hearts, it doesn't matter.

In short, Liu Bei now has to pay the price for the promises he made.

but,

It was precisely because Huainan held immense local power that Liu Bei ordered Chen Deng to "resolve the matter himself."

Ma Liang smiled wryly:
"In that case, the imperial court is unable to send reinforcements."

Chen Deng put away the imperial edict, his gaze resolute:
"Although there are no reinforcements, Heaven is on the side of the Han Dynasty, and there will surely be a turning point."

"Although Jingnan has rebelled, not everyone will necessarily follow the rebels."

“Among the barbarians, there must be those who still remember the kindness of the Han.”

Ma Liang pondered for a moment, then suddenly said:
"...General's words have reminded me."

"The barbarian king of Wuxi, Shamoke, once received great kindness from Mr. Kongming and has never participated in a rebellion."

"However, their tribe lives deep in the Wuling Mountains, making it difficult to contact them."

A glint of light flashed in Chen Deng's eyes:
"This is a golden opportunity!"

"If we can get help from Shamoke, the situation in Jingnan may be reversed."

He then turned to Xu Sheng and Jiang Qin, saying, "You two should quickly send capable men to sneak into Wuling and invite Sha Moke to come and see you."

"Remember, this matter must be handled in secrecy, and the news must not be leaked."

The two men cupped their hands in greeting:

"I will obey your orders!"

Three days later, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

In a secluded mountain forest outside Jiangling City, Chen Deng, accompanied by only ten personal guards, waited for Sha Moke to arrive.

Around midnight, a rustling sound was suddenly heard in the woods.

Then dozens of barbarian warriors dressed in animal skins and wielding strange weapons quietly appeared.

The leader was nearly ten feet tall.

His face was as red as a jujube, and he wore copper rings in his ears.

It was none other than Shamoke, the barbarian king of the Five Streams.

Shamoko looked Chen Deng up and down, his voice booming:

"So you are the person sent by Zhuge Liang?"

"No."

Chen Deng said frankly, "Zhuge Kongming has already gone to Jiaozhou."

"Deng was ordered by the Emperor to come and guard Jingzhou."

Shamoko looked disappointed:
"I only acknowledge Mr. Kongming."

“He treated my people with sincerity, taught me farming, and gave me salt and iron.”

“If it weren’t for his kindness, I would have rebelled with the other tribes long ago.”

In terms of pacifying ethnic minorities, Zhuge Liang was almost a top-tier figure in the entire Three Kingdoms period.

The fact that even barbarian tribes, who were usually fearful of his power but not grateful for his kindness, could be attributed to his unique personal charisma.

Chen Deng remained calm and took out a letter from his bosom:
"When I left Shouchun, Master Kongming asked me to deliver a message to Your Majesty."

Shamok hurriedly took it and examined it closely by the light of the torch.

In his letter, Zhuge Liang spoke earnestly, recalling his past interactions with the Wuxi barbarians.

He also asked Shamoke to remember their past relationship and help Chen Deng quell the rebellion.

After reading it, Shamoke sighed deeply:
"As expected, Master Kongming has not forgotten the old agreement!"

In fact, this letter was forged by Chen Deng.

Zhuge Liang was in Jiaozhou, a place with poor transportation, making communication between the two places extremely inconvenient.

They probably don't even know what happened in Jingzhou, so how could they have time to write to Shamoke?

Seeing this, Chen Deng quickly pressed his advantage and said:
"Your Majesty is wise."

"Cao Cao usurped the throne and declared himself king, making him a great traitor to the country."

"His instigation of the rebellion in Jingnan was merely an attempt to use the barbarians to oppose the imperial court."

"Once they gain power, they will inevitably turn around and suppress other ethnic groups in order to consolidate their rule."

Shamoke pondered for a moment and said:

"Other tribes all say that Cao Cao can change the situation, and that following him will allow them to obtain land, salt, and iron."

"This is a temporary advantage."

Chen Deng said solemnly, "Our Great Han Dynasty has been established for more than four hundred years, and has always been pacified towards all ethnic groups in the four directions."

"If Your Majesty is willing to help the court quell the rebellion, Deng can make this promise on behalf of the Emperor."

"After the war, the Wuxi barbarians maintained their autonomy as before, were exempted from taxes for three years, and were also given salt, iron, and farming tools."

A look of struggle flashed in Shamoke's eyes. After a long while, he finally stomped his foot heavily.
"Alright! I believe in Mr. Kongming, and I also believe in you, Chen Yuanlong."

"Three thousand brave warriors from the Five Streams are ready to be commanded!"

Chen Deng was overjoyed and bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty's righteousness is truly admirable; I, on behalf of the Emperor, express my gratitude!"

That night, Chen Deng and Sha Moke held a secret meeting until dawn, agreeing to contact other barbarian tribes that had not yet completely sided with Cao Cao to jointly resist Cao Cao's army.

Before parting, Shamoke patted his chest and guaranteed:

"Within ten days, I will surely persuade the Lishui and Youshui tribes to surrender."

"They are watching and waiting, simply because no one is taking the lead."

Chen Deng grasped Sha Moke's strong arm:

"Your Majesty, once Jingnan is pacified, I will surely present a memorial to the Emperor, who will generously reward the people of the Five Streams tribe."

Upon returning to the city, Chen Deng immediately convened a meeting with Ma Liang and others to discuss matters.

Hearing that Shamoke was willing to help, everyone's spirits lifted.

Ma Liang clapped his hands in praise:

"Good, great good!"

"With the help of the Five Streams Barbarians, the rebellion in Jingnan will be no longer a worry."

The current situation in Jingzhou is that the south of Jingzhou is out of control, while the north of Jingzhou is facing the pressure of Cao Cao's large army.

This makes it difficult for the Jiangling headquarters to take care of both ends.

If we try to save the south, Jiangling will surely fall.

If they defended the north, they would be attacked from the south by Jingnan.

Therefore, advancing is worrisome, and retreating is also worrisome.

now,

If Shamoke is willing to help quell the rebellion in Jingnan, then Chen Deng will be able to free up his hands and focus on resisting Cao Cao's attack.

After the military meeting concluded, Chen Deng officially began strategic planning.

He stood in the hall, his gaze resolute, pointed to the map of Jingzhou, and instructed the crowd:

"Cao Cao's army of 70,000 marched south, and its strength was formidable; it should not be met with light force."

I intend to lead 20,000 troops from Huainan to garrison Zhijiang, hold the strategic position, and block their advance.

“Jiangling is the foundation of Jingzhou. Governor Ma will lead the troops of this prefecture to defend the city and prevent any unforeseen events.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Pan Jun stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"General, your plan is good, but the four counties of Jingnan have already rebelled."

"If the barbarian soldiers attack us from behind, we will be attacked from both sides. How can we defend ourselves?"

Upon hearing this, all the officials below the hall looked worried.

In the four prefectures of Lingling, Guiyang, Wuling, and Changsha, barbarians killed officials and occupied the cities.

If they take advantage of Chen Deng's northward march to harass Jiangling, then Jingzhou will be in danger.

Chen Deng smiled slightly, his gaze firm:

“I have made a covenant with Shamoke, the barbarian king of the Five Streams. He is a man of great loyalty and has received great kindness from Zhuge Liang. He will never betray the Han.”

"With him in charge of Jingnan, even if the barbarians have ulterior motives, they will not dare to act rashly."

Pan Jun was still uneasy and said:

“Barbarians are fickle and have not been influenced by the king’s rule; it is difficult to trust them fully.”

Chen Deng pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up at the person below the hall and said loudly:
"Ji Bi!"

A man, about forty years old, stepped out from the crowd.

He had a thin face and bright, piercing eyes.

It was Chen Deng's trusted advisor, Chen Jiao, whose courtesy name was Jibi.

In his early years, when Chen Deng was the governor of Guangling, he was recruited to serve as his chief clerk.

He was later transferred to the position of magistrate of Huaiyin, and held important positions such as Western Commandant and Chief Secretary.

He can be described as both a veteran official of the Han court and a renowned figure in Huainan.

"The general is here!"

Chen Deng stared at him and slowly said:
"I intend to send you with Shamoke to Jingnan to appease the various barbarian tribes on behalf of the court and help them pacify the rebellious tribes."

"This journey is perilous. The land is untamed and we may be killed if we are not careful."

"Do you... dare to go?"

The journey was extremely dangerous, but the two had a very close friendship.

To be honest, Chen Deng didn't want him to go.

However, Chen Deng chose Chen Jiao instead of selecting from among the officials of Jingzhou.

It is precisely to set an example—

In the face of national crisis, Deng Xiaoping never hesitated to show any selflessness!
I am sending my trusted confidants on this risky mission, and I also ask that you, the officials, scholars, and powerful families of Jingzhou, put aside your past grudges.

Unite as one and focus on resisting foreign enemies.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and all the officials looked at Chen Jiao.

Chen Jiao remained expressionless, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said:

"A great man who lives a life of mediocrity is no different from rotten wood and decaying grass."

"Now that the nation is in peril, how could I possibly spare my life!"

Historically, Chen Jiao represented Chen Deng in seeking help from Cao Cao.

Cao Cao once again set his sights on someone else's talent and wanted to keep Chen Jiao by his side.

Chen Jiao, however, replied righteously and eloquently:
"Our country is in dire straits, and we have been running around trying to appeal for help. Even if we cannot achieve our goal, how could we forget the duty of spreading our message?"

These words reveal Chen Jiao's sense of righteousness.

At the same time, his referring to Chen Deng's power as "his own country" shows that people at that time had a different understanding of the separatist rule of the feudal lords than ordinary people.

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng's eyes flashed with approval, and he immediately stood up.

He personally poured a full glass of wine, handed it to Chen Jiao, and said with a sigh:

"How magnificent! Ji Bi is truly a national hero! I toast you with a cup!"

Chen Jiao took the cup with both hands, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then threw the cup to the ground and said loudly:
"I will certainly live up to the general's expectations on this mission!"

That evening, a group of high-ranking officials in Jingzhou drank a banquet with trepidation.

The next day,

Chen Jiao changed into a plain robe, without armor, and accompanied only by two close attendants.

With Shamoke and his party of dozens of barbarian soldiers, they quietly left Jiangling and headed south.

Entering the mountain road in southern Jingzhou, the forests are deep and secluded, and the air is filled with miasma.

Although Chen Jiao was a scholar, he remained calm and showed no fear.

Seeing his courage, Shamoke secretly admired him and asked:

"Mr. Chen, this land is treacherous. Aren't you afraid of death?"

Chen Jiao smiled calmly:
"Life and death are preordained, so what is there to fear?"

"Moreover, my trip is not for personal gain, but to stabilize Jingnan for the sake of the imperial court."

"If I can bring peace between the Han and the barbarians, what regret would I have even if I died?"

Shamoke was taken aback and asked:

"You only care about the country and not yourself at all?"

"...Jiao has always liked Li Xiang's saying—"

"If it is beneficial to the country, I will not avoid it because of misfortune or fortune."

"Your Majesty, being in this wasteland, will not understand what this means."

Shamoke remained silent upon hearing this, then asked:

"How many people like you are there in the Central Plains?"

Chen Jiao replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"They are all talented in both literature and martial arts, possess both wisdom and courage, and are loyal, righteous, and generous, numbering in the thousands."

“Those who are incompetent are numerous and cannot be counted.”

Shamoke was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, and he thought to himself—

This Mr. Chen Jiao is already a remarkable hero, but listen to what he says.

There are thousands more powerful figures in the Central Plains than him.

And there are countless people like him.

It seems that he made the right choice by not standing against the imperial court.

A few days later,
Shamoke led Chen Jiao to the Wuling barbarian village.

When the barbarian chieftains saw the Han officials arrive, they all showed hostility, and some drew their swords and shouted angrily:

"How dare these Han dogs enter my stronghold?!" Shamoke shouted sternly.
"How dare you be so disrespectful! This is Mr. Chen, an envoy from the imperial court! How dare you be so rude!"

Chen Jiao remained calm, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"My lords, I have come by the Emperor’s command, not for conquest, but for reconciliation."

"Cao Cao acted perversely and instigated rebellion, merely to make the barbarians kill each other so that he could reap the benefits."

"If you are willing to submit to the imperial court, the emperor will surely treat you generously!"

One of the barbarian leaders sneered:

"Han officials have always bullied us barbarians, and now they're speaking well of us? Who will believe them?"

Chen Jiao said seriously:
"How did Zhuge Liang treat you all in the past? Did he ever break his promise?"

"General Chen, now following in the footsteps of Zhuge Liang, is willing to establish an alliance with all the tribes—"

"If you are willing to submit, you will be exempt from taxes for three years and given salt, iron and farming tools."

"Each department shall maintain its autonomy as before, and the imperial court will not interfere!"

This offer is very generous.

Although the Han Dynasty was just beginning to flourish, it was still rich in resources.

This amount is but a drop in the ocean compared to the entire Han Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, the barbarian chieftains looked at each other in bewilderment.

Shamoke seized the opportunity and said:

"Cao Cao was cruel, treacherous, and cunning."

"If he gains power, he will surely slaughter my entire race!"

"General Chen is benevolent and kind, and he also has the Emperor's decree. Why not submit?"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, until finally one of the leaders stood up and proclaimed loudly:

"Very well! I believe in Shamoke, and I also believe in Zhuge Liang! My tribe is willing to submit!"

Seeing this, the other departments also gradually agreed.

Jingnan Wuling County is surrounded by mountains and dotted with barbarian villages.

Chen Jiao followed Shamoke south to pacify the various tribes, employing both kindness and severity.

Through their efforts, the barbarian tribes of Lingling, Guiyang, and Changsha successively submitted to the government.

Only Meng Liao, the leader of the Lishui barbarians, was unruly and secretly colluded with Cao Cao, refusing to surrender.

While Chen Jiao and Sha Moke were discussing how to pacify this tribe.

Suddenly a barbarian soldier entered the tent and reported:
"Your Majesty, Mr. Chen, the Lishui tribe has sent an envoy to report."

"We are willing to submit to the imperial court, and have prepared a banquet to invite you!"

Shamoke was overjoyed upon hearing this and slammed his hand on the table, saying:

"Good! Now that Meng Liao is willing to submit, Jingnan can be pacified!"

Chen Jiao frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Your Majesty, please wait."

"Meng Liao said just the other day that he would never surrender, but today he has suddenly changed his mind."

"His attitude has changed, I fear it is a deception."

Shamoke was taken aback and asked:

"What do you mean, sir...?"

Chen Jiao's gaze was deep as he said in a low voice:

"If Meng Liao is truly willing to surrender, why hold a banquet?"

"This must be a trap set by Hongmen, intended to harm both the king and me."

Upon hearing this, Shamoke's eyes widened in anger, and he said sternly:

"You scoundrel Meng Liao! How dare you deceive me?!"

Chen Jiao raised his hand to stop him, and sneered:

"Since they have devised a plan, why don't we turn the tables on them?"

"Oh?" A glint flashed in Shamoke's eyes. "What brilliant plan do you have, sir?"

Chen Jiao whispered in his ear, giving him a secret plan.

After hearing this, Shamoke clapped his hands and laughed:

"Brilliant! Brilliant! We shall follow your plan, sir!"

That night, the barbarian village along the Lishui River was brightly lit with torches and filled with the sounds of drums and music.

Meng Liao personally came out of the village to greet him, his face beaming with smiles:
"The arrival of King Shamoke and Mr. Chen from afar truly brings honor to our humble village."

Shamoke laughed heartily:
"Chief Meng, you are too kind! Since you are willing to submit to the court, you will be one of us from now on."

Chen Jiao remained calm and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"Chief Meng is a man of great principle; the imperial court will certainly not fail you."

A sinister glint flashed in Meng Liao's eyes, but his smile deepened as he gestured for him to enter.

"Please take your seats, gentlemen!"

After entering the tent, the table was laden with wine and meat, and barbarian women sang and danced to entertain the guests.

After several rounds of drinks, Meng Liao suddenly raised his cup, stood up, and said loudly:

"The presence of King Shamoke and Mr. Chen today is an honor for our Lishui tribe."

"Come, let us drink this cup together to show our sincerity."

Just as Sha Moke was about to raise his glass, Chen Jiao suddenly raised his hand to stop him, and said calmly:
"Wait a minute."

Meng Liao's expression changed slightly:

"Mr. Chen... what does this mean?"

Chen Jiao's gaze was sharp as a blade as he stared directly at Meng Liao and slowly said:
“I am an envoy of the Emperor. According to etiquette, when a barbarian chief offers wine, he should drink it first to show that it is not poisoned.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Liao's expression changed drastically, and he forced a smile:
"...Sir, you're overthinking it!"

"This wine is a fine brew from our tribe; how could it be poisonous?"

Chen Jiao sneered: "If it's not poisoned, why doesn't Chief Meng drink it first?"

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly froze. Meng Liao's forehead was beaded with sweat, and he suddenly let out a sinister laugh:
"Chen Jiao! You have already seen through my scheme, so why bother putting on an act here?"

"None of you will leave here alive today!"

Having said that, he smashed the wine glass.

"Qiang!"

The hidden soldiers outside the tent emerged, their blades flashing!
Shamoke was prepared and roared:
"Meng Liao! You're courting death!"

Before he finished speaking, he threw a punch.

Caught off guard, Meng Liao was struck hard and fell to the ground, blood gushing out.

Chen Jiao abruptly stood up and shouted sternly:
"Meng Liao! I am an official appointed by the imperial court."

"If you dare to harm an angel, you will be cutting yourself off from heaven!"

Meng Liao struggled to his feet and roared:

"Kill them!"

Just then, a deafening battle cry erupted outside the village.

The Wuxi barbarian soldiers, who had been lying in ambush, and the warriors of the surrendered tribes rushed in together, throwing the Lishui barbarian people into chaos.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Meng Liao drew his sword and tried to escape.

Shamoke reacted swiftly, grabbing his bow and arrow, drawing the string like a full moon—

"Whoosh!"

An arrow through the throat!
Meng Liao's eyes widened, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

With Meng Liao dead, the tribes of the Li River were leaderless and knelt down to surrender.

Shamoke stood with his knife in hand and said sternly:

"Listen up, all of you! Meng Liao colluded with Cao Cao to murder the imperial envoy; he deserves to die a thousand deaths."

"The current court is lenient and benevolent; if you are willing to submit, past transgressions will be forgiven!"

The barbarian soldiers trembled with fear and shouted in unison:

"We surrender! We surrender!"

"I'm waiting for you!"

From then on, the chaos in Jingnan was completely quelled.

With the chaos quelled, Chen Jiao did not rush to return north.

Instead, he personally went to the four prefectures of Wuling, Lingling, Guiyang, and Changsha to appease the Han and non-Han peoples and restore their livelihoods.

He went deep into the countryside to investigate people's hardships.

Seeing that the barbarians lacked salt and iron and were struggling to make a living, he ordered the opening of the official granaries to provide relief.

They also bestowed agricultural tools and cloth in the name of the imperial court.

Chen Jiao personally mediated between Han Chinese and barbarian peoples who had previously had grudges, bringing them to a reconciliation.

A month later, the four prefectures of Jingnan gradually returned to their former state, and the people all praised Chen Jiao's virtue.

Before leaving, Chen Jiao hunched over his desk and wrote furiously.

He wrote down his observations and experiences in governing Jingnan in a memorial to the emperor, dividing it into two parts—

One copy was sent to Jiangling and presented to the Jingzhou headquarters, with a note attached:
"Jingnan has been pacified, and the barbarians and Han people live in harmony."

"However, the barren lands are barren. If we want long-term peace and stability, we need to reduce taxes and levies, teach them farming and weaving, and gradually let them be influenced by the king's rule."

Another document was sent by fast horse to Luoyang to be presented to Emperor Liu Bei:
"Your subject, Jiao, was ordered to pacify Jingnan. I have observed that the reason why the barbarians rebelled was not solely due to their unruly nature."

"It was because of the harshness and cruelty of officials that people were struggling to make a living."

"Although the situation is temporarily peaceful, if we do not provide relief and compensation, there is a risk of further complications in the future."

"I request that a school for barbarians be established in Jingnan to teach them etiquette."

"Reduce their taxes and help them with farming."

"If we select honest and upright officials to govern them, then the barbarians can enjoy peace forever."

The strategy proposed by Chen Jiao was actually the same strategy that Zhuge Liang used at the time.

However, after Zhuge Liang, later Han officials faced difficulties in oversight due to the distance from the emperor.

They then began to ruthlessly exploit the local barbarians for their own personal gain.

While the Han people may not necessarily gain much benefit from the local Han officials.

But living together, that feeling of being superior must be very good.

Therefore, they mostly supported local Han officials, making it even more difficult for the imperial court to monitor them.

Therefore, the conflict between the Han and the barbarians continued to intensify.

The barbarians were dissatisfied that the Han people enjoyed more privileges than they did.

In addition, the two ethnic groups do not understand each other's languages ​​and cultures, so they both demanded independence.

This rebellion in Jingnan was more of an eruption of long-standing tensions between the Han and the non-Han peoples.

Although the situation has been temporarily quelled, as Chen Jiao said...

If not handled properly, it will inevitably erupt sooner or later.

……

Incense wafts through the Chongde Hall of the Southern Palace in Luoyang.

Liu Bei, dressed in a black court robe with dragon patterns, held two silk scrolls in his hand, his brows revealing an undisguised joy.

Civil and military officials were separated into ranks.

Prime Minister Lee Ik stood at the head of the civil officials, a purple-gold jade belt hanging from his waist, awaiting the emperor's will.

"My lords!"

Liu Bei's voice was booming as he raised the silk scroll in his hand high.

"Good news from Hefei! Zhang Wenyuan defeated 100,000 with only 800 men, and Wu's army was wiped out at Xiaoyao Ford."

"The children of Jiangdong stopped crying upon hearing the name Zhang Liao!"

An uproar immediately erupted in the hall.

Zhao Yun stepped forward and bowed:

"General Zhang is truly a tiger among men of our time."

"Back in Liaodong, he once killed Tadun in battle, which made him a formidable figure in the northern frontier."

"Now that Your Majesty is using him, his divine power will be even more evident."

Liu Bei stroked his beard and laughed heartily:

"I originally thought that after Chen Yuanlong transferred the Huainan army, it would be necessary to send troops from Henan to provide reinforcements."

"I never imagined that Wen Yuan could..."

He suddenly stopped speaking and turned his gaze to Li Yi.

"Truly worthy of being someone trained by Prime Minister Li!"

Li Yi hurriedly bowed:

"Your subject dares not accept such an honor."

"General Zhang's decisive actions in battle were all due to his courage and strategy, and had nothing to do with me."

"otherwise."

Liu Bei rose from his seat, his black robes sweeping across the dragon-patterned imperial steps.

"If it weren't for Prime Minister Li's strong recommendation, how could Zhang Wenyuan have gone to Hefei to make his mark?"

As he spoke, he took the gilded imperial edict from the attendant's hand.

"By imperial decree, Zhang Liao is hereby promoted to General Who Conquers the East, and his fief is increased by eight hundred households."

"Gan Ning, Zhou Tai, and other generals will each be promoted one rank and awarded one hundred catties of gold!"

Zhang Liao achieved great success in this battle and was directly promoted to the rank of General of the Four Expeditions, which is equivalent to being on par with Chen Deng.

Of course, given Zhang Liao's military achievements, he absolutely deserved this reward.

Although in reality, Zhang Liao's actual power was still less than that of Chen Deng.

But no matter what, it is still an honor that brings glory to one's ancestors.

In this battle, his record was not only outstanding.

More importantly, he saved the country a lot of military spending and supplies.

For this reason alone, Liu Bei deserved to reward him handsomely.

Not to mention that Zhang Liao is now a symbolic figure, and his "stopping the crying in Jiangdong" has a strategic intimidating effect on the Wu people.

After the bestowal of rewards was completed, Liu Bei suddenly stopped smiling and took another scroll of bamboo slips from the table.

"This is a memorial submitted by Chen Jibi from Jingnan."

The atmosphere in the hall immediately became heavy.

The bamboo slips made a crisp sound as they unfolded, and Liu Bei's voice deepened:

"I have just realized that the troubles between the Han and the barbarians in Jingnan are so severe."

Liu Yan stepped forward for a closer look and couldn't help but gasp in shock.

The bamboo slip was filled with densely packed records—

Han officials forcibly conscripted barbarian women as maids, tax collectors doubled their exploitation, and some even went so far as to massacre barbarian villages under the guise of suppressing bandits to claim credit.

The feud between the Han and the barbarians in the Wuling area has lasted for three generations, and the resentment is as deep as a mountain.

"Barbarians are also my subjects."

Liu Bei tapped his knuckles on the bamboo slips, making a thumping sound.

"Although Minister Chen has temporarily quelled the rebellion, what is the fundamental solution?"

"All of you are my trusted and beloved officials, so please speak freely."

Hua Xin was the first to step forward:

“Barbarians do not understand etiquette and law, so we should build cities and garrisons to divide and govern them.”

"No!"

Xun You interrupted, saying:

"This was the First Emperor's strategy for governing the Baiyue region, but it instead led to years of war."

"According to Chen Jiao's proposal, it would be better to use barbarians to control barbarians."

"I just hope it will prevent any trouble from happening."

As far as the central government is concerned, as long as the local barbarians do not cause trouble or endanger lives, it is sufficient to maintain border stability.

The imperial court was very satisfied.

As for expecting them to be like other Han Chinese, content to farm, weave cloth, pay taxes and perform service for the country, and squeeze out some profit?

The imperial court really doesn't expect that.

We don't care about the few melons and taels of silver that you barbarians possess.

As long as you don't cause trouble, that's enough.

Xun You's words actually represent the views of traditional scholars.

The bronze beast-shaped furnace emitted wisps of blue smoke.

Liu Bei sat upright behind his desk, quietly observing the civil and military officials below.

The officials below had been debating for two hours about how to handle the Jingnan issue.

People hold different views on whether to adopt a "soft" or "hard" policy.

The public says that the public is reasonable, and the mother says that the woman is reasonable.

No one can convince anyone.

"Gentlemen!"

A clear shout fell like gold and jade to the ground.

Li Yi slowly walked out of the ranks, starting from the head of the civil officials.

In an instant, the hall fell silent.

Li Xiang held immense prestige in the court, and everyone listened attentively whenever he spoke.

Liu Bei leaned forward slightly and said softly:

"Prime Minister Li must have some brilliant ideas."

Li Yi's wide sleeves fell down, revealing his slender fingers:

"I do have a plan, but I have been thinking about it for years and dare not speak of it lightly."

"In my humble opinion, the land south of Jingzhou can be transformed into a 'land exchange' policy."

"Using water and soil? What does 'using water and soil' mean?"

Liu Bei repeated the unfamiliar phrase, gently stroking his chin in thought.

"Please allow me to explain in detail."

Li Yi stepped forward three paces and said methodically:

"The current chaos in Jingnan is rooted in the hereditary rule of local officials."

“Barbarian chieftains like Shamoke may be loyal and righteous, but their descendants may not be virtuous.”

"If it is inherited from generation to generation, it will eventually become a national scourge."

"I believe that the existing barbarian chieftains should be granted official seals and ribbons."

“Those who have made meritorious contributions, such as Sha Moke, may be granted the title of Marquis of Duting.”

"As for the local officials of Jingnan, they must be changed to appointed officials."

The policy proposed by Li Yi was essentially the conversion of native chieftains to centrally appointed officials.

Of course, in the historical reform of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials, "Tu" generally refers to the local chieftain.

Although there were no Tusi (chieftains) in the Han Dynasty, the term can be used to refer to local officials.

Because of the remote location, it is not easy to replace officials.

Just look at Jiaozhou today.

Why were there so many powerful Han Chinese clans in Jiaozhou?
In fact, after Emperor Wu of Han destroyed the Baiyue, he relocated a large number of Han people there.

Then Han officials accumulated considerable power there, thus becoming a prominent family in the area for centuries.

However, it was not uncommon for Han officials to abuse their power to oppress local ethnic minorities.

After all, there are very few people in this world as fair and selfless as Zhuge Liang.

"Is Prime Minister Li planning to abolish hereditary official positions?"

Li Yi turned his head, his gaze as calm as an ancient well, and said, "In the past, when Yu the Great controlled the floods, dredging was better than blocking."

“The children of barbarian chieftains learn etiquette, music, poetry, and books, gradually becoming influenced by Chinese customs. Why not do it?”

"What if the barbarian chieftain resists?"

“He can be killed.”

Li Yi replied with those three words indifferently.

hiss……

Everyone gasped; they rarely heard Li Yi utter those three words so simply and bluntly.

But only Li Yi knew that if the reform of the native chieftain system were to be truly implemented, it would be impossible to do so without the use of force.

Why was the Qing Dynasty the only one in history to successfully implement the policy of replacing native chieftains with appointed officials?

Because they fought for twenty years, using more than 600,000 troops.

The cumulative expenditure amounted to hundreds of millions of taels of silver.

Therefore, the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials, which seemed like a good strategy to stabilize the local areas, was actually accompanied by violent suppression.

However, the cost of using force to suppress such activities is considerable.

Li Yi's intention to implement this policy in Jingnan was actually to help Zhuge Liang of Jiaozhou conduct an experiment.

……

(End of this chapter)